Gronau, 7 October 2025. St. Antonius Hospital in Gronau is making medical history with the introduction of the new da Vinci 5 surgical system: its urology clinic is the first in Europe to use the latest and most technologically advanced generation of the da Vinci family. The first patients have already been successfully operated on with the new system – with consistently positive results.
‘Our experience over the past few days shows that the system is even more sensitive, the procedures in the operating theatre are more optimised and it is also much more comfortable for us as surgeons to work with,’ says Dr Christian Wagner, one of the four chief physicians at the urology clinic. "The system gives us more autonomy in the operating theatre and at the same time supports us with intelligent feedback. This allows us to perform our procedures even more precisely and gently for our patients."
Gronau once again a pioneer in Europe
It is no coincidence that Gronau is the location for the European premiere: back in 2006, St. Antonius Hospital in Gronau was one of the first clinics in Germany to have a da Vinci system. Since then, robot-assisted surgical capacities have been steadily expanded. Today, there are five da Vinci systems in Gronau, which have been used to perform more than 25,000 minimally invasive procedures. These include over 23,700 prostatectomies – an international record. With the affiliated European Robotic Institute (ERI), Gronau also has an excellently equipped training centre for surgeons and nursing staff.
‘We are proud that Gronau is once again at the forefront of this development in Europe with the da Vinci 5,’ says Christoph Bröcker, Managing Director of St. Antonius Hospital. ‘This is not only a benefit for our patients, but also a strong signal for Gronau as a medical location and for the many doctors and nurses who work here with state-of-the-art technology.’
One person who particularly appreciates the quality of medical care at St. Antonius Hospital in Gronau is Bernd Loeffler, former Chief Superintendent of the Borken district. He had his prostate removed a good month ago – and he is completely satisfied with the overall package consisting of surgery, care and aftercare. ‘From the initial examination to the operation and up to today, everything has gone excellently. I am very satisfied with the treatment and can wholeheartedly recommend the urology department at St. Antonius Hospital in Gronau.’
Around 150 improvements
The da Vinci 5 system offers around 150 improvements over its predecessor:
- Optimised imaging and immersive console: more realistic 3D surgical image, better ergonomics, less strain on surgeons.
- More efficient operating theatre procedures: intuitive control at the touch of a button, simplified user interface for nursing teams, automation of individual routine tasks.
- Significantly more computing power: 10,000 times faster, with new sensors and software – the basis for AI-supported feedback that helps surgeons immediately optimise their technique.
- The system is future-oriented: additional functions will be available in the coming months to provide even more support to operating physicians.
Unique infrastructure for training and research
While the latest system is now in use in the Gronau operating theatre, an older model will be leaving the operating theatre and will be used for training at the European Robotic Institute (ERI) in future. The device previously used there is being phased out as it no longer receives technical support. ‘No other clinic in Germany has its own training centre of this kind,’ says Wagner. ‘This makes Gronau particularly attractive for young doctors and international specialists.’
In the clinic's own study centre, all results are also systematically recorded and scientifically evaluated – a basis for continuous quality improvement and international research collaborations.
Manufacturers and politicians emphasise importance
North Rhine-Westphalia state politicians also recognised the role of St. Antonius Hospital: "This premiere shows that even smaller locations can be at the forefront of innovation. For the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, this is a strong signal both in terms of quality of care and AI-supported medical technology," emphasised Matthias Heidmeier, State Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of North Rhine-Westphalia.
District Administrator Dr Kai Zwicker added: ‘With this development, St. Antonius Hospital Gronau is once again demonstrating its special appeal. The introduction of the da Vinci 5 is a milestone – not only for medical care in our region, but also for the entire district of Borken. Research, innovation and patient welfare go hand in hand here in a unique way.’
